Being fired from your job could make it very difficult for you, especially if you are the primary provider for your family. Being unemployed can have long-term financial consequences, such as missing rent payments and other bills, facing late fees and debt collection efforts, struggling to afford food and depleted savings.
Even though you live in an “at-will” employment state, you may be entitled to damages if you were wrongfully terminated. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Were you fired for discriminatory reasons?
It is illegal to fire someone based on discriminatory reasons due to certain protected characteristics, which include things such as gender, race, national origin, pregnancy, disability, sexual preference or age. If you believe (or know) that you were terminated due to one or more of these issues, you may have a valid case.
Did you recently report workplace harassment?
You or another employer may have been a target of workplace harassment, such as violent actions, discriminatory comments or requests for sexual acts. Your employer could have fired you to bury the harassment claim and protect the business’s reputation – but that’s illegal, too. You cannot lawfully be terminated for exercising your rights.
Were you protected by whistleblowing laws?
You may have reported your employer because they were doing illegal activities, such as dumping toxic chemicals or violating federal laws. Your employer may have fired you because they were unhappy with your reporting their actions. As a whistleblower, you are protected from retaliatory actions, such as being fired or demoted.
If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, it may be important to learn about your legal options. You can — and should — fight back to protect your reputation, your career and your future.